Stridebox November

Hi everyone!!! Happy Monday!  How was your weekend? I really hope it was fun and enjoyable! Is it just me or is it totally amazing how fast the weekends go?!?!? WOWSA!

I got my favorite subscription box in the mail! Stridebox! Yippee!! Even though I am on a running break until I find out what to do about this torn meniscus, I love this sub box so much that I am not going to discontinue it! I will just have a lot of fun fuel and products to try in a few months, right?!

Any of you runners out there that have not seen this yet, you need to check it out! I love everything EVERY MONTH!

So - here it is!!!

And the awesomeness that is the contents of the box!!

This comes with each box. It explains where to purchase the item and the cost to purchase a full size product.

Each month is an awesome product for runners! This month is the waterproof gear bag! Seriously awesome!!!!

This nutrition bar. I ate this at work for lunch the other day. It was delish!

A little sample of running fuel! The pumpkin spice sure sounds amazing!

And another fuel - this on is a gel which I prefer!

This is actually the flavor of my favorite gel packet so I am guessing that these fuel bites are going to be incredible!!! I cant wait to try these whenever I start training again! Yummo!

 Some vitamin water packets...I will try these at work...only 5 calories for vitamin and energy water. Nice!

I am drinking this as I type! I think it is working - ha ha!

Every box has a sticker too! I love these! I am saving them up for something - not sure what yet...maybe a medal mural...any ideas!?

I hope everyone has an awesome week! I am knee deep in Turkey dinner prep!! HA HA!

Anyone else stressing about Thanksgiving dinner? Anyone else cooking their first one this year? Any ideas for my running stickers?

Happy Monday!

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November Ipsy

Hi Guys! It's that time again! If you love makeup and trying new beauty finds then you probably already know about Ipsy! If not, read on! I love it so much! It is a subscription box that, once you sign up, is sent to you every month. Each month is a new makeup bag and anywhere from 5 - 7 items for you to test and rate.It costs only $10 a month! I look at it like sending a gift to myself every month - I deserve it!! HA

Here is the adorable and glitzy envelope I look forward to seeing each month!

All the loot spilling out!

A closer look!

I received this hair repair creme. I have not tried it yet but I am excited to!

At first I thought this was lip gloss but it turns out it is face highlighter! This is one of the reasons I love Ipsy...if it were not for the fact that they send me these kind of products, I would have never purchased and tried a face highlighter and found out that I love them!!!

Some new eyeshadow...beautiful color for Fall!

A new lipstick...this goes on very nicely and I love the color!

Smashbox mascara! Whats not to like?!?!

And, last but not least, this months bag! I love getting a new makeup bag each month! My nieces love when I give these to them to use as purses and I use them to organize my purse contents also!

 If you enjoy trying new makeup and beauty products and companies - you will love Ipsy!! Try it out!

I hope everyone has a great day!

What is one makeup product you have never tried to use? What is your favorite makeup product ever? A must have?

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Wednesday HodgePodge

Welcome all! I am joining Joyce for this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. The instructions are as follows if you wish to participate then answer the questions, add your link at the end of Joyce's post, then run say hi to the blogger who linked before you. Lets do this ladies!!!

1. What's surprised you most about your life, or about life in general?
How much more I know every year. Each year I learn so much more about life and what really matters and my mind is opened even more! If I only knew then what I know now.....LOL!
2. Among others, these ten words were added to the Oxford English Dictionary this year...awesomesauce, beer o'clock, brain fart, buttdial, cat cafe (apparently this is a real thing), fatberg (gross-read the definition here), fat shame, hangry, Mx (gender neutral), and skippable. Your thoughts? In looking over the list, which word do you find most ridiculous? Which word would you never in a million years say out loud? Which word would you be most likely to use in conversation?
The only one that is at all applicable in my life is buttdial. The others I will never use and honestly, do not see a need to....LOL!
3. Do you like gravy? Is there a food you'd rather not eat unless it comes with gravy? Do you make your own or buy the canned or store-made variety? Turkey and gravy, sausage gravy, mashed potatoes and gravy, country ham and red eye gravy, biscuits and chocolate gravy, pot roast and gravy...which on on the list is your favorite?
I love gravy! Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy are the things I look forward to about Thanksgiving dinner. I also look forward to sausage biscuits and gravy when I go south - it is delicious and a rare treat for me!!! I never eat it any other time but there is a special place in my heart for gravy - :-)
4. Do you have a plan? Do you need a plan? Have you ever had a plan fall into a trillion pieces? Explain.
I never have a plan - I am a very flighty and spontaneous person. I hope I never find a plan or make a plan because I sense that that is the best way to be let down...no expectations is the way to live!
5. November 19 is National Play Monopoly Day. Do you own the original or some version of the game? Do you enjoy playing Monopoly? How likely is it you'll play a game of Monopoly on November 19th? Ever been to Atlantic City? Ever taken a ride on a railroad? Is parking in your town free? Last thing you took a chance on?
Seriously?!?!?!?!  Is this really true!?!?!?I LOVE LOVE LOVE Monopoly. That truly is my favorite game and I have the BEG my family to play it with me!
6. A song you like that has the word (or some form of the word) thanks in the title, lyrics, or meaning?
Jesus Take the Wheel! Love it!
7. In keeping with this month's theme of gratitude...what is something you're taking for granted that when you stop and think about it, you're grateful for?
My entire life and my outlook on life! I try everyday to be positive and grateful! It is the only way to live! I recovery we learn to take inventory everyday and it truly does make you a better person!
8. Insert your own random thought here.

I hope everyone has a great rest of the week!!!!Thanks Joyce for hosting!

Need a New Therapist!

Hi guys! I hope everyone is having a great week! We are halfway there!

Anyone out there a REALLY good listener or certified therapist?!

UGH!

I hate writing this post! It makes me face reality which, right now, is not all that awesome as far as running goes!

Running has actually become a really amazing stress-buster for me. It helps me get rid of frustration and anger and also really helps me focus and zone in on the positives in my life and also the things I need to take a look at changing!

Basically - - - it's my therapy!

Well, about two months before the half marathon I just finished, I "tweeked" my knee. I was at a Cardio HipHop class and my knee kind of just gave out when I landed on it wrong I guess.

I did not want to bail on the Hershey Half-marathon so I kept training and getting in all my scheduled runs but my knee felt unstable and hurt a little at night.

After the marathon I went for X-rays and MRIs and I have now found out that I have a torn medial meniscus and a Bakers Cyst :-(

I have googled it and they look nasty!  The cyst is what was causing the ligament to snap behind my knee and it is a horrible, shooting pain when it happens.

Long story, short...I could not get in for a consult with the surgeon until the end of December!!! UGH!!!! Until then, it is walking only! What?!?!?!

The hardest thing is that I am able to eat the way I want because of running and now I foresee a future of veggies only - it will be salads UNTIL the end of the year?!?!? UGH!!!!

Anyone else out there ever dealt with this? Or know someone that has? How long is recovery? Can I ever run again? 

Your experience, strength and hope is welcome!!!!!

Thank in advance guys! I will keep you posted :-(

My Five!!!!

Happy Friday everyone!!! 

I am so so very excited to announce that I will be assisting (which means probably organizing 90% ha) of my BF's Thanksgiving Dinner for his family! Yeah me and yeah us! This will be his first year hosting dinner for his family at his house since his divorce (sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews and his children). I am over the top excited for this dinner! But, since he has been a bachelor for so long there are a lot of things we need to purchase in order to host a nice family dinner. He has mismatched dishes, plastic cups and ZERO tablecloths! I am going to join in with the Friday 5 link-ups to brainstorm what he needs to buy for this dinner! HA HA

1. Glasses!  We will be hosting 16 people (us included) and I think he has about 8 GLASS glasses and the rest are mismatched plastic.  We definitely need to find some nice glasses!

These look perfect!!!

2. Placemats!  Again, he has none and we are hosting a lot of people so I think it is only appropriate we get a place mat for everyone,,,right?

These are really nice!

3. Tablecloth! I think he has one tablecloth that could be a little Thanksgivingly (is that a word?? HA). The problem is that we will be having two tables of people so we definitely are going to need two matching tablecloths.  I love this one!!

4. Plates!  I think we will go with classy plastic dishes this year. I hate to have him buy dishes and have nowhere to store them all year so I think I am going to recommend to him that we do what my family does. We use the pretty plastic ones...high end of course - HA! (Update: I just bought these!!!)

5. Turkey and Stuffing Fixins: Last but definitely not least, we are supplying the turkey and stuffing and everyone else is bringing side dishes. We need to go make our frozen turkey purchase this weekend!  I love cooking turkey with the traditional sage stuffing my Mom makes! I am so excited for this dinner!
 

I made him a fall wreath last weekend for the front door already but I think I also need to pick up some decorations for around the house....see, way more than just five things but it has helped me to think about it a little!

What are all of you doing for Thanksgiving?

Cooking or eating out? With family or enjoying quiet alone time?

Traditional stuffing or does your family like the new-fangled recipes??

Join in on the link up fun with the ladies below!!!!

Oh Hey Friday with September Farm and The Farmer's Wife.

Friday Favorites with A Little Bit of Everything, Momfessionals, and Grace and Love.

And 5 on Friday with A. Liz Adventrues, Carolina Charm, Hello! Happiness, and The Good Life.

And Again Hodgepodge

Yea! It's Wednesday and that means it is time to link up with Joyce for Wednesday Hodgepodge!

 

1.  In two or three sentences, tell us what Veteran's Day means to you.

I have so many veterans in my life...family and friends! I think it means taking time to thank all those that fought so hard to give us the right to our basic freedoms. I am eternal grateful to each and every one of them, whether I know them or not. Thanks for everything you gave and sacrificed for others.

2.  What's your favorite film with a patriotic theme woven into the storyline? I love Forrest Gump...does that count?

3.  Flu shot-yes or no?  If you answered no, do you plan to get a flu shot?  If not, why not?  Have you ever had the flu?  NO flu shot!  I get the flu shot every year. Maybe I am too paranoid but I get sick a lot so it definitely helps me....that is just me though...LOL!

4.  I've seen lots of people posting pictures of their Christmas trees up and decorated.  Many stores have had Christmas on display since well before Halloween.  Red cups are back at Starbucks, sans the holiday decor and that has some people up in arms.  What are your thoughts on all the holiday ruckus this second week of November? I love Christmas but I also love Halloween and Thanksgiving! I give them all their proper celebratory time periods - HA! If i did not love Thanksgiving so much I would already have my tree up because I love my ornnaments and I have SO MANY Christmas decorations compared to the other holidays. Every year I try to hold off on the tree at least until Thanksgiving is over.

5.  What 'critter' are you most afraid of encountering unexpectedly?  Why that one? This is simple for me! I cannot stand spiders! I am not sure why or what it is about them but I cannot be anywhere near a spider...big or small...ICK! I get itchy and feel like they are all over me!

6.  Do you like building things?  What's the last thing you 'built'? I did not think I was a builder however, over Halloween I realized that I am and I love it! We had a Lego themed party at work and I had to "build" a Lego bat and pumpkin and I loved every second of it! Seriously, it was so fun! I am going to get ones for every holiday now!

 

 

 7.  In keeping with this month's theme of gratitude...what are you most grateful for that brings beauty to your daily life?

I'm so grateful for my family! They are supportive, loving and fun! I could not have chosen better people to get to call family! I love each and every one of them so much!

8.  Insert your own random thought. 

I cannot wait to get my hair colored tonight after work - I waited way too long and my grey is showing! Ugh!

I hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

A Passion for Wine

Saturday night I attended and volunteered at the Passion for Wine which raises money for Cystic Fibrosis.  I have volunteered for the past two years and I love it! It is such a great cause and everyone that volunteers for them is amazing! This is my group that I work with every year! I love these women!!! left to right is myself, Kathy, Carol and Marybeth!

It was held at PPG Place in the Wintergarden and everything looked so beautiful! Attendees pay a entry fee and they have samples of  six different wines. Also, in attendance are usually five or six chefs from popular restaurants in Pittsburgh. People just mingle and try the wines and food samples and then bid on auction items. It is always a lot of fun and raises a lot of money every year!

Example of an auction item...

Another shot of the venue...

This was the highlight of the night for me!!!  My very favorite chef, Kevin Sousa, made a dish for the evening. It is shown below. The dish consisted of pheasant, chestnut, black garlic, orange and maitake. It was amazing as always! He will be opening his newest restaurant soon called Superior Motors in Pittsburgh (Braddock to be exact) and if you are from the area you need to run there! His food is amazing and just EXPLODES in your mouth - it truly is ART at its finest!

Anyone else love volunteering? Anyone else love food? How about a special restaurant or chef?

Happy week everyone!

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Little of This and a Little of That

Hi everyone! This is truly going to be a random post with a little of this and that from my cell phone pictures!  

This was me yesterday getting ready for my MRI. I have to say that the reason I took this selfie is that instead of a gown with a WIDE OPEN BACK I got disposable scrubs to wear! Yea me! They were awesome compared to the robes!! Loved it! Hopefully by the end of the week I will know what is wrong with my knee and why it keeps popping out of place - OUCH!

I made this wreath for the BF!!! He decided that he is going to host Thanksgiving dinner for his family at his house on Thanksgiving.  Needless to say, he has ZERO decorations! So I looked on Pinterest and found a wreath that I loved and attempted it!   I think it turned out great...mine is directly below shown hanging on the white door. Now for the menu?!?!?!? WOWSA - talk about stressful!!

And this is the Pinterest version I was going for...I actually like mine better!!! Yea - Pinterest win!!!

This is a random shot of a normal day at the BF's house! He has two 3-legged dogs and his daughter randomly watches her BF's dog so it is like a giant slumber party for all three when they are together!!! They had to share the sunny patch of light! HA

I hope everyone has an amazing HALFWAY through day!!

Have you all alread made your Thanksgiving Day plans? Will you be hosting or eating out maybe? 

I would love ideas and comments with your favorite recipe ideas or dishes as this is my first time hosting a Thanksgiving Day dinner!

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Friday Five...Five on Friday...Friday Favorites

Hi everyone!!!!  I love all the Friday linkups! And I love Friday in general...ha! Who does not really, right?

Anywho...here are my five favorites for this week. I was in no way compensated for these opinions! These are mine and mine alone and every product was purchased with my own $$$.

1. This stuff from Essie is amazing! If you can find it, buy it! It was sold out in every store I went to so I finally bought it on Amazon. The link I lined to is available for Prime also if you are a member. It goes over any polish and makes it last FOREVER! It is so shiny and very chip-free and really is awesome stuff if you do your own nails!

2. I had to show you all this! I love my co-workers! I have so many awesome co-workers and I came into the office on Monday to find this adorable little girl on top of a huge plate of cookies all for me! Seriously, you gotta love her!!! What a way to make someones week, hugh? This adorable girl and the co-worker that got her for me are truly a favorite this week!

 3. This is a new daily favorite! It is ....ready? ...Metamucil!!!!! It is the sugar-free punch flavor and I love it! I am drinking a 12 ounce glass of water with 2 tsp of Metamucil every day before lunch and it is amazing! I am full way quicker and not hungry all afternoon! This is my new favorite product and I think it is helping me lose weight as I am not hungry and eating all day long anymore! Awesome and regular! HA

4. I love this necklace! I got it for a steal on a clearance rack at Cato Fashions. It was regular priced around $15 and I got it for 2 as the tassel was unraveled. I took it home for $2 and repaired it and now I get compliments every time I wear it! If you have never checked out Cato, you need too! I love this store and their jeans are awesome and fit perfectly! So reasonably priced too - you will be amazed at the prices for everything!

5. I got this lipstick from Lord & Berry in a Birchbox and it is awesome!!! It is a perfect lipstick and the perfect color for me - they sent me the color called Shut Up and it is perfect! It goes on creamy and smooth and shiny! I am going to order twelve more tubes!! Love this soooo much!!!!!!!

Well, thats my Friday 5!!! Hope you all have an amazing weekend! And I cannot wait to link up and read everyone elses favs!

Anyone else miss Summer?
Anyone else addicted to subscription boxes like me? If so, which ones? I NEED MORE! HA!

Happy Friday!

 

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